Flanging machine



Oct. 22, 1968 VR. H. D. ARMBRUSTER 3,406,548,

FLANG ING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RONALDHLD. ARMBRUSTER Oct. 22, 1968 R. H. D. ARMBRUSTER 3,406,648

FLANG ING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1966 w QQ INVENTOR.

RONALD H.D. ARMBRUSTER 1968 R. H. D. ARM BRUSTER 3,406,648

FLANGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR. RONALDH. D. ARMBRUSTER Oct. 22, 1968 ARMBRUsTER 3,406,648

FLANGING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 1, 19 5 IN V EN TOR RONALDH D ARMBRUSTER new, (i 301%;

Li 8 @737 wt 7/////A Oct. 22, 1968 R. H. D. ARM BRUSTER 3,406,548

FLANGING MACHINE I Filed Feb. 1. 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet E,

a m & :1 i R W v ,w u w 6 7 we 5 mu m m m 1 w F a u 1: F i.- V FF..\\\\\ \\& /w Fig Fililw Fill: A7 .7. .7

Oct. 22, 1968 R. HID. ARMBRUSTER 3,406,643

FLANG ING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 1. 1966 m\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\w u 62 i\\\ \I h mEmG Qw Time Fig; 9

INVEN TOR. RONALD H.D. ARM BRUSTER United States Patent 3,406,648FLANGING MACHINE Ronald Herman David Armbruster, Battle Creek, Mich.,assignor to The E. W. Bliss Company, Canton, Ohio, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Feb. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 524,340 8 Claims. (Cl. 113-7)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A die flanging machine for can bodies whichare closed at one end and open at the other end comprising a rotaryturret which is adapted to receive the can bodies and to revolve thesame in sequence about the turret axis. The turret is provided with anumber of radially disposed stations each receiving a can as the turretrotates. Each station has axially aligned tool heads between which thecan is centered, and a cam means moves at least one of the tool headsrelative the other as the turret rotates so that the can body is engagedby the tool heads. One of the tool heads is provided with a die whichflanges the metal of the can in the can open end, and the cam means isprovided with a surface having an abrupt rise at a predetermined pointso that the speed of forming abruptly increases the instant flangingcommences so as to deform the metal at a sufiiciently high rate to avoidexcessively straining the metal in the flange area. A second stationarycam surface engages fingers at a predetermined point which causes thefingers to move into engagement with the can, and to pull the can fromthe flanging die on separation of the tool heads.

This invention pertains to the art of can making machinery and moreparticularly to machinery for placing a flange on only one end of canbodies having the other end closed.

Heretofore a flanging operation was normally required on both ends of acan body since neither end was closed. In one type of such flangingoperation, called die flanging, a can body is positioned between alignedtool heads each comprising a flanging die having a pilot about the samediameter as the can body and a flange ring at the base. The tool headsare adapted to be driven toward each other so that the pilots enter theopposite open ends of the can body. The flanges are formed by stretchingand bending the metal on each end until stopped by the flange ring.

Such a flanging operaion is normally performed on a rotary turret-typeflanging machine in which the tool heads are carried on dual turretsdriven on a common shaft. The tool heads revolve in unison about theturret axis and are moved into and out of the ends of the can body intimed rela ionship. The can bodies are fed between the turrets wherethey are individually picked up by a turret disc which cradles each canbody in a semicircular receiving space and rotates conjointly with theturrets serving to align each can body with a set of aligned tool heads.

The conventional method involves a rather gradual flanging movement overthe flanging die. Since die flanging necessarily involves stretching themetal in forcing the can body on the flanging die, one problem hasalways been that the flange tended to crack or split under the strainrendering the can body completely unusable.

Another problem in die flanging is in removing the flanged can body fromthe dies. The present trend in the can making industry is toward the useof extruded can bodies. Certain can bodies which are formed by anextrusion process have integral side and bottom walls and ice are openat only one end, thus giving rise to a specific need for a machine tohandle the flanging operation for such can bodies.

The problem is solved easily enough when the can body is open at eachend for when the tool heads are mutually retracted, the can body willremain stuck to one or the other flanging die so as to travel with it asit revolves and also as it is retracted. As the can body moves axiallywith the one die, the opposite flanged end engages the turret disc whilethe die upon which the can body is aflixecl continues to retract withthe result that the die is withdrawn.

However, extruded can bodies such as referred to above have only oneopen end which is flanged. Thus, there is no flange on the opposite end,the closed end, and the turret disc is ineffective as means forextracting the can bodies from the flanging die.

Accordingly, the present invention has as its principal purpose theprovision of a rotary turret die flanging machine operating in suchfashion to largely eliminate the possibility of flange crackingincluding provisions for positively positioning can bodies having oneclosed end in alignment with a flanging die and extracting the flangedcan bodies at the completion of the flanging operation.

In accordance wi.h the broadest aspect of the invention a can flanger isprovided including a pair of aligned tool heads, one of which is adaptedto reciprocate rela tive to the other and propel a can body onto aflanging die, the speed of reciprocation abruptly increasing at theinstant flanging commences so as to deform the metal at a sufficientlyhigh rate to avoid producing cracks due to excess strain.

Further in accordance with the invention, a can body flanger is providedcomprising a rotary turret adapted to receive can bodies closed at oneend and to revolve the same in sequence about the turret axis from areceiving station to a discharge station. A plurality of cooperable toolheads aligned and facing each other are mounted around the turret axisand also are mounted for reciprocation longitudinally toward and awayfrom each other in timed relationship. One of each set of cooperabletool heads includes an extractor mechanism employing radially movablegripping fingers for grasping the closed end of the can body at thecompletion of the flanging operation and the other tool head includes aflanging die adapted to enter the open end of the can body and center itin cooperation with the other tool head prior to flanging. A cam memberis arranged to move the gripping fingers in timed relationship with theto and fro reciprocation of the tool heads to extract the can body fromthe flanging die and to release it at the discharge station.

The main object of the invention is the provision of a rotary turretflanging machine incorporating principles of high rate metal forming toa die flanging operation primarily to avoid the problems of flangecracking.

Another object is to provide cooperable tool heads which are eflectiveto align a can body with a flanging die in spite of the fact that oneend of the can body is closed.

Another object is to provide cooperable die flanging and exractor toolheads which support and guide an extruded can body having one open endso that it is driven coaxially onto a flanging die as the tool headsmove toward each other and subsequently the closed end of the can bodyis gripped by the extractor tool head as the tool heads move away fromeach other positively extracting the can body from the flanging die.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from theensuing description thereof which is illustrated by way of example inthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation primarily showing the can bodyfeed through the fianging machine;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the turrets of thefianging machine;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the left hand turret taken along line 3--3 ofFIGURE 2 showing the arrangement of the extractor tool heads;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the tool head section of theleft and right hand turrets in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view showing the relative positions of the toolheads and a can body just prior to the fianging operation;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view representing the positional relationship ofthe tool heads and can body at the completion of fianging;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic view illustrating the extraction of a can bodyafter the fianging operation;

FIGURE 8 illustrates a modification of the extractor tool head; and

FIGURE 9 is a time-displacement curve representing the high ratefianging cycle of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are merely for thepurpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only andnot for the purpose of limiting same, FIGURE 1 is a schematicrepresentation of the can body feed for a rotary turret fianging machine10 constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of theinvention. The machine 10 includes an intake feed spiral. 12 which incooperation with a star wheel 14, separates can bodies 15 and feeds themindividually to a turret disc 16 into can receiving recesses 18 at a canreceiving station 20. As viewed, the turret disc 16 rotates in acounterclockwise direction carrying the can bodies 15, in cooperationwith the star wheel 14 and an intake can guide 21 toward a fianging area22 where the can bodies are to be flanged in a manner describedhereinafter. After the fianging operation is completed, the turret disc16, in cooperation with a lower can guide 23, carries the flanged canbodies to a discharge station 24.

Referring now in more detail to FIGURE 2, the fianging machine 10includes left and right hand turrets 25, 27 each of which are axiallyspaced on a main shaft 30 driven by a gear 32. The turret disc 16 is intwo parts, each part bolted to a turret 25, 27 with the can receivingrecesses 18 thereof aligned with each tool head slide 34, 35 mounted onthe respective turrets 25, 27. The tool head slides 35, of which thereare eight on the right hand turret 27, are arranged in a radial mannerand are cooperably aligned with the tool head slides 34 similarlyarranged on the left hand turret (FIGURE 3).

On the outboard side of each turret 25, 27 is a nonrotatable cam block37, 38, each of which is mounted on a bearing 39, 40 within which themain shaft and turrets 25, 27 are adapted to rotate. The cam blocks 37,38 are supported from the machine frame, a portion only of which isshown at 41. Each cam block 37, 38 is a generally circular member whichincludes a circumferential cam slot 42, 43 adapted to receive a camroller 44, 45 held on a pin 46, 47 which is mounted in a boss 48, 49 oneach tool head slide 34, 35. The tool head slides 34, 35, whilerevolving about the turret axis, are also mounted for reciprocation toand fro within turret channels 60, 61 in timed relationship asestablished by the shape of cam slots 42, 43.

Directing attention now specifically to the left hand turret 25, asshown in FIGURE 3, a cam yoke 53 surrounds the left hand turret andincludes an arcuate cam plate 55 adjustably bolted on one side thereof.As provided in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cam plate55 is arranged to be engaged by cam rollers 56 carried by rocker arms 57pinned at 58 to lugs 59 on the turret 25 and positioned above each toolhead slide 34 (FIGURE 2). Each rocker arm 57 includes a downwardlyextending portion which rotata y supports a wedge operating roller 62.An opening 63 in each tool head slide 34 is enlarged transversely asuflicient amount to accommodate for the to and fro reciprocation of thetool head slide as determined by the shape of cam slot 42 withoutinterfering with the movement of rocker arm 57 about pin 58 inaccordance with the shape of cam plate Referring now to FIGURE 4 wherean enlarged fragmentary portion of the turrets 25, 27 and tool headslides 34, 35 may be seen, the wedge operating roller 62 is positionedto engage a clamping wedge 65 carried by each tool head slide 34 withina collar 66 providing a bearing 67. Each clamping wedge 65 includes ashank portion 68 joined by a frustoconical head portion 69 having arecess 70 adapted to receive one end of a coil spring 71, the other endof which is received in a recess 72 on the backside of a can stop 73.Each can stop 73 has three radially extending slots 74 spacedapproximately 120 about the periphery thereof (FIGURE 3). Extending intoeach slot 74 is the end of a clamping finger 75, each of which ispivoted near the center at 76 and has an adjustable follower button 77at the rear end adapted to engage the frustoconical surface of theclamping wedge head portion 69. A coil spring 78 biases each finger inthe radially outward position. The forward end of each clamping finger75 is curved on the lower surface 80 so as to fit snugly against thesidewall of a can body and includes a curved recess 81, the purpose ofwhich will be described hereinafter. Although three fingers are shown,it will be understood that for larger can bodies a greater number wouldbe required to provide the proper grip.

Referring now to the right hand turret 27, it may be seen that each toolhead slide 35 includes a fianging die 83 positioned within a fiangingdie ring 84 and is held by a stud 85. The fianging die has a chamfer 87which enters the open end of the can body first and in cooperation withthe can stop 73, centers the can with the axis of the flanging die inpreparation for the fianging operation. The fianging die 83 isapproximately the same diameter as the can body and the flange is formedby deforming the metal until stopped by the flange ring. The manner inwhich this is done is an important part of this invention as will beexplained hereinafter.

Operation As mentioned previously, known prior art die fianging machinesemploy a relatively slow, gradual movement of the can body over thefianging dies which leads to flange cracking, nor are they equipped toextract a can body from a fianging die when one end of the can is closedsuch as found in extruded can bodies.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention and as may bevisualized in FIGURES 5-7, a can body 15 to be flanged is deposited atthe can receiving station of the fianging machine 10 and is carriedalong by the turret disc 16 and star wheel 14 being supported with itsopen end adjacent the fianging die 83 and its closed end adjacent thecan stop 73. It has been found that in depositing a can body directlyfrom the spiral 12 to the turret disc 16, there is a tendency for thecan body to bounce due to the impact. This is more noticeable withextruded can bodies since they are more rigid. The subsequent gyrationsnevertheless sometimes cause it to miss the dies and either a damagedcan or a jam results. The present arrangement avoids this problem sincethe star wheel 14 and turret disc 16 cooperate to completely enclose thecan body for an instant.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the tool head slides 34, 35 are in the fullyretracted position and the clamping fingers 75 are raised due to thefact that the clamping wedge 65 is in the retracted position. As the canbody 15 begins to move into the fianging area of the machine depicted inFIGURE 6, the tool head slides 34, 35 move toward each other ascontrolled by the shape of cam slots 42, 43 (FIG- URE 2). When thefianging die 83 begins to enter the open end of the can body 15, the canstop 73 has been moved to the back of the can body 15 and the coactionof chamfer 87 of the flanging die 83 and pressure of the can stop iseffective to automatically center the can with the flanging die axis.Referring now to FIGURE 9, a time-displacement curve is shown thepurpose of which is to represent the flanging cycle. In accordance withthe invention, the cam slot 42 which propels the can body onto theflanging die has a sharp, abrupt change of direction as indicated atslope a in FIGURE 9 so as to provide a rapid time-displacementoccurrence at the instant flanging commences. The effect is to deformthe metal at a high rate during the period it is undergoing maximumstrain so as to achieve maximum strength in the flange area and to avoidcracking or rupture. 1

The can body is now carried along primarily by its open end which isstretch-formed over the flanging die 83. As the turrets continue torotate, the point is reached at which the cam rollers 56 (FIGURE 3)engage the arcuate cam plate 55 causing the rocker arm 57 to push theclamping wedge 65 outwardly by means of the wedge operating roller 62.thus moving the clamping fingers 75 simultaneously to grip the closedend of the can body as shown in FIGURE 6. In the drawings, the curvedrecess 81 of each finger 75 locks on a bead 88 formed near the bottom ofthe can body although the can may not have a beaded bottom and thedevice will still function properly.

At the completion of the flanging operation (point b in FIGURE 9) thetool head slide 34 begins its retracting motion under the control of camslot 42 which action extracts the can body 15 from the flanging die 83.Once the can body is clear of the flanging die 83, the timing is suchthat the cam roller 56 passes beyond the arcuate cam plate 55 allowingthe clamping finger 75 to spring open releasing the can body as shown inFIGURE 7. The turrets 25, '27 continue to rotate carrying the flangedcan bodies to the discharge station and the tool head slides are fullyretracted (point 0 in FIGURE 9) to receive an unflanged can at thereceiving station when they come around to that point again.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, a modification of the /extractor tool head isshown which is similar to that shown in FIGURE 4 and for purposes ofdescription, similar parts will be identified by like numerals with aprime mark. Each clamping finger 75' is pivoted approximately at thecenter and carries a roller 90 which engages a frustoconical headportion 69 of a clamping wedge 65'. A spring 94 biases the rear end ofeach finger 75' in the clamping direction.

The operation is such that as the clamping wedge 65' is moved forward bythe wedge operating roller '62, the rollers 90 of each finger 75 arefree to roll down under the influence of spring 94 bringing the ends ofeach finger 75' into clamping engagement with the can body. In themodification, the force of spring 94 exerts the clamping pressure toavoid any possibility of marring the can. When the clamping wedge 65' isretracted, the action of the rollers 90 then earns the fingers 75 uppositively breaking the grip on the can. Spring pressure is adjustableon the fingers to give the proper control pressure.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of the invention it willbe appreciated by those skilled in the art that certain modificationsmay be made without departing from the invention in its broadest senseas defined in the appended claims except insofar as limited by the priorart.

I claim:

1. A die flanging machine for can bodies closed on one end comprisingcooperably aligned and axially spaced pairs of tool heads, one of whichis reciprocally mounted relative to the other;

rotary turret means adapted to receive the can bodies and to move thesame in sequence from a receiving station to a discharge station, aplurality of pairs of tool heads between which the can bodies arecentered being positioned at spaced intervals on the periphery of saidrotary turret means;

a flanging die mounted on one of the tool heads or each pair adapted toenter the open end of each can body, upon inward movement of the toolhead;

can stop means mounted on the other tool head of each pair includingextractor means engageable with the closed end of each can body; and

first and second camming means for reciprocating one of said tool headsand operating the extractor means respectively in timed relationship assaid rotary turret means rotates whereby each can body is flanged uponinward tool head movement and then extracted from the flanging die asthe tool heads separate; said first camming means comprising a camsurface which has an abrupt rise at a predetermined point so that thespeed of forming abruptly increases at the instant flanging commences soas to deform the metal at a sufficiently high rate to avoid excessivelystraining the metal in the flange area.

2. A flanging machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein each tool head ofeach pair is reciprocally mounted, said first camming means moving eachtool head in timed relationship toward and away from the other.

3. A flanging machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein the extractormeans include a plurality of radially movable extractor fingers adaptedto grip the closed end of each can body at the end of the flangingoperation and withdraw the can body from the flanging die as the toolheads separate.

4. A flanging machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the extractormeans include in addition a clamping wedge having a frustoconicalcamming head portion reciprocally mounted c oaxi-ally in each of saidtool heads which revolve adjacent the closed end of the can bodies,

rocker means mounted on the turret above each said tool head having adownwardly extending arm portion engageable with the clamping wedge,

follower means on each of said extractor fingers engageable with thefrustoconical head portion of the clamping wedge, and

said second camming means including an arcuate cam plate arranged forengagement by each rocker means as the turret rotates to cause theextractor finger to grip the can body during extraction and to releaseit at the discharge station.

5. A die flanging machine comprising cooperably aligned and axiallyspaced tool heads, one of which is reciprocally mounted for movementrelative to the other;

feeding means for receiving can bodies and moving the same in sequencebetween the aligned tool heads from a receiving station to a dischargestation;

a flanging die mounted on one of the tool heads adapted to enter theopen end of a can body to perform a flanging operation thereon; and

cam means for reciprocating the tool head which is reciprocally mountedforcing the can body onto the flanging die, said cam means comprising acam surface which has an abrupt rise at a predetermined point so thatthe speed of forming abruptly increases at the instant flangingcommences so as to deform the metal at a sufliciently high rate to avoidexcessively straining the metal in the flange area.

6. A die flanging machine as set forth in claim 5, the

feeding means comprising a rotary turret receiving can bodies andrevolving the same in sequence about the turret axis a plurality of saidtool heads being radially mounted on the turret,

said cam means comprising a cam guide plate which is stationary withrespect to rotation of the rotary turret, and cam follower means on eachof said tool heads engaging said cam guide plate.

7. A die flanging machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein the can bodiesare closed on one end and each tool head is reciprocally mounted formovement in timed relationship toward and away from each other, the toolhead opposite the closed end ofthe can including a plurality of radiallymovable extractor fingers engageable with the can at the completion ofthe flanging operation for withdrawing the can body from the vflangingvdie as the tool heads move apart. 8. A die flanging machine asset forth in claim 7 comprising 4 a clamping wedge reciprocally mountedin the tool head and engageable with each finger to move the clampingend in a radially outward direction and spring means biasing theclamping end of each finger in a radially inward direction so that asthe clamping wedge is advanced the clamping end of each finger 8 t Imovesradially inwardly under the pressure applied by the spring means togrip a can body and when the clamping Wedge is retracted, the clampingend of each finger is moved radially outwardly to positively release thecan body! I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD JI ERBST,Primary Exa iner; I

